A 1×40-foot container carrying caches of guns has been seized by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to Tin Can Island Command.
The container was initially declared as containing plasma television sets, according to the owner, and its clearing was also sub-contracted to the identified clearing agent.
Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Customs Uche Ejesieme confirmed the seizure.
“The officers intercepted a container loaded with weapons, but as we speak, what we have done as a command is that we have written to the terminal to evacuate the container immediately to enforcement unit for 100 per cent examination so that we can actually ascertain the quantity and other relevant information,” he said.
“We expect the terminal to evacuate the container to the enforcement unit where we intend to strip it, and the quantity, names of people involved and other further information would be available.”
He added that in line with service protocol, the command would inform the Customs high command in Abuja after the container has been thoroughly examined at the enforcement unit of the command.
“This is why we have not issued an official statement regarding the seizure.
“As we speak, we do not have full details of who is behind the import, country of import and the model of guns.
“All these will be made known at the end of investigations,” he added.
The customs, however, vowed to trace the matter to its very roots and apprehend those in connection.
According to him, , the suspects identified most times are those freight forwarders and agents coming for examination.
“But we are more interested in getting to the importer and everyone involved in that criminal importation to nip it in the bud,” he assured.